equity theory

• what is meant by the equity theory?

  claims that people are most comfortable when what they get out of a relationship is roughly equal to what they put in
• what is the main characteristic of an equitable relationship?

  • partner's benefits minus their costs equals the other partner's benefits minus their costs
  • their inputs and rewards from the relationship are equal, they perceive themselves to have equal roles in the relationship
  • both partners are satisfied
• what is characteristic of a relationship that lacks equity?

  • distinct types of dissatisfaction
  • if people feel over-benefitted, they feel pity, guilt and shame
  • if under-benefitted, they experience anger, sadness and resentment
  • the greater the inequity, the greater the dissatisfaction and stress, and the more they are motivated to do something about it
• briefly describe research into equity and inequity concerning marriage

  • Schaffer and Keith- studied married couples of all ages
  • marriages felt inequitable because of an unfair division of domestic responsibilities
  • wives reported feeling under-benefitted often and husbands over-benefitted, marital satisfaction is highest during the honeymoon period and empty nest stages
  • Hatfield and Rapson- Happily married couples don't keep score of what they are giving and getting
• describe the three key ways people restore equity that Hatford and Rapson identified

  • restoration of actual equity- voluntarily setting things right/urging their partner to do so
  • restoration of psychological equity- can distort reality and convince themselves that things are perfect the way they are
  • if unable to restore equity, then leave it- can be physically (divorce) or emotionally (no longer having feelings for a partner)
• describe the key study by Stafford and Canary


  PROCEDURE:

  • over 200 married couples to complete measures of equity and relationship satisfaction
  • each spouse asked about use of relationship maintenance strategies

  FINDINGS:

  • Satisfaction= high for spouses who perceived relationship as equitable, followed by over-benefitted partners and then under-benefitted partners
  • under-benefitted husbands- lower levels of relationship maintenance strategies compared to equitable/over benefitted husbands
  • spouses treated equitably more likely to engage in behaviours making their partners feel equitable
• evaluation of equity theory?

  • ☹️cultural differences- Aumer Ryan et al- equity not as important in non-Western cultures, people from US claim equitable relationships but in Jamaica the least equitable ones
  • 😊research support- Stafford and Canary
  • ☹️gender differences- DeMaris et al- men and women aren't equally affected by inequality in romantic relationships- women tend to feel less over-benefitted than men
  • ☹️Brosnan and de Waal- inequity in non-human primates- capuchin monkeys angry if denied prize for playing game, very angry when another monkey who didn't play game gets reward, mattered most in casual but not as much in intimate relationships